Getting Back into Electronics After 7+ Years — Looking for Textbook Recommendations to Rebuild My Fundamentals and Transition into Embedded Systems

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Hi everyone!

I have a diploma in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, but it's been over seven years since I last formally studied electronics. Over the years, my academic and professional interests have gradually shifted toward computer science, particularly programming and software development.
However, I've recently developed a strong interest in revisiting electronics, not necessarily to pursue it as a standalone discipline, but to bridge the gap between hardware and software, particularly in areas such as embedded systems, microcontrollers, IoT, and computer engineering.
Since I've been away from the subject for quite some time, I feel that my fundamentals have become rusty, and I'd like to rebuild them systematically.

What I'm looking for:

I'm hoping to find textbooks that offer a good balance between theoretical depth, mathematical rigor, and practical understanding.
Ideally, I'd prefer books that:

• Start with the fundamentals and gradually progress toward more advanced concepts.
• Provide clear, concise explanations without sacrificing technical depth.
• Include plenty of worked numerical examples, circuit analysis problems, and exercises with solutions.
• Emphasize conceptual understanding rather than simply memorizing formulas.
  
• Help establish a strong foundation for eventually studying embedded systems, microcontrollers and hardware-software integration.

I'm not necessarily looking for books that oversimplify the subject. I'd appreciate something that explains the underlying principles thoroughly but remains approachable for someone returning after a long break.

Some of the textbooks I already own include:

• Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory (11th Edition) — Boylestad & Nashelsky
• Electronic Principles (7th Edition) — Malvino & Bates
• Engineering Circuit Analysis (5th Edition) — Hayt & Kemmerly
• Solid State Electronic Devices (6th Edition) — Streetman & Banerjee
• Digital Integrated Electronics — Taub & Schilling
• Digital Technology: Principles and Practice
• Engineering Digital Design (2nd Edition) — Richard F. Tinder
• Hughes Electrical and Electronic Technology (10th Edition)
• Microprocessor Architecture, Programming, and Applications with the 8085 (5th Edition) — Ramesh Gaonkar
• The 8051 Microcontroller (3rd Edition) — Kenneth J. Ayala
• Microcontrollers: Architecture, Programming, Interfacing and System Design — Raj Kamal
• CMOS VLSI Design (4th Edition) — Weste & Harris
• The Art of Electronics (3rd Edition)

These are only a few from my collection. I also have textbooks covering communication systems, signals and systems, DSP, power electronics, control systems, and other electronics-related subjects.

My main questions are:

1. Given my background, which textbooks would you recommend starting with to rebuild my electronics fundamentals?
2. Are any of the books I already own particularly suitable for self-study, or are there better alternatives available today?
3. What would be a sensible learning progression from basic circuit theory and electronic devices to digital electronics, microcontrollers, and eventually embedded systems?
4. Are there any books that do an especially good job of connecting electronics theory with practical hardware and programming applications?

I'm particularly interested in hearing from engineers who have experience working across both electronics and computer science.

I'd appreciate any recommendations, especially from those who have followed a similar path or returned to electronics after a long break.

Thanks in advance!